Secretary of State in Possession of Coca Leaves

March 21, 2006

Coca leaves were given to Secretary Rice as part of a gift by the president of Bolivia, during Rice’s visit to that country in March. The leaves were embedded in a guitar that President Evo Morales gave Rice, an Andean guitar with a coca-leaf inlay.

Officially, the United States government frowns on the receipt of material from which illicit drugs can be made.

According to the report, it was "unclear whether [Rice] immediately realized what adorned" the guitar. She told Morales, "I’m a musician, you know," and strummed the instrument happily.

Senior State Department officials said they would check customs rules to see whether the coca guitar could be brought back to the US.